California Veterinarians @ Grassroots Animal Rights

Cal Penal Code 596.7.

(a) (1) For purposes of this section, “rodeo” means a performance featuring competition between persons that includes three or more of the following events: bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, or team roping.

(2) A rodeo performed on private property for which admission is charged, or that sells or accepts sponsorships, or is open to the public constitutes a performance for the purpose of this subdivision.

   (b) The management of any professionally sanctioned or amateur rodeo that intends to perform in any city, county, or city and county shall ensure that there is a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state present at all times during the performances of the rodeo, or a veterinarian licensed to practice in the state who is on-call and able to arrive at the rodeo within one hour after a determination has been made that there is an injury which requires treatment to be provided by a veterinarian.

   (c) (1) The attending or on-call veterinarian shall have complete access to the site of any event in the rodeo that uses animals.
   (2) The attending or on-call veterinarian may, for good cause, declare any animal unfit for use in any rodeo event.
   (d) (1) Any animal that is injured during the course of, or as a result of, any rodeo event shall receive immediate examination and appropriate treatment by the attending veterinarian or shall begin receiving examination and appropriate treatment by a veterinarian licensed to practice in this state within one hour of the determination of the injury requiring veterinary treatment.
   (2) The attending or on-call veterinarian shall submit a brief written listing of any animal injury requiring veterinary treatment to the Veterinary Medical Board within 48 hours of the conclusion of the rodeo.
   (3) The rodeo management shall ensure that there is a conveyance available at all times for the immediate and humane removal of any injured animal.
   (e) The rodeo management shall ensure that no electric prod or similar device is used on any animal once the animal is in the holding chute, unless necessary to protect the participants and spectators of the rodeo.
   (f) A violation of this section is an infraction and shall be punishable as follows:
   (1) A fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for a first violation.
   (2) A fine of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a second or subsequent violation.

Cal Penal Code 596.5.

 It shall be a misdemeanor for any owner or manager of an elephant to engage in abusive behavior towards the elephant, which behavior shall include the discipline of the elephant by any of the following methods:
   (a) Deprivation of food, water, or rest.
   (b) Use of electricity.
   (c) Physical punishment resulting in damage, scarring, or breakage of skin.
   (d) Insertion of any instrument into any bodily orifice.
   (e) Use of martingales.
   (f) Use of block and tackle.

Cal Penal Code 596-597

 Every person who, without the consent of the owner, wilfully administers poison to any animal, the property of another, or exposes any poisonous substance, with the intent that the same shall be taken or swallowed by any such animal, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
   However, the provisions of this section shall not apply in the case of a person who exposes poisonous substances upon premises or property owned or controlled by him for the purpose of controlling or destroying predatory animals or livestock-killing dogs and if, prior to or during the placing out of such poisonous substances, he shall have posted upon the property conspicuous signs located at intervals of distance not greater than one-third of a mile apart, and in any case not less than three such signs having words with letters at least one inch high reading “Warning–Poisoned bait placed out on these premises,” which signs shall be kept in place until the poisonous substances have been removed.  Whenever such signs have been conspicuously located upon the property or premises owned or controlled by him as hereinabove provided, such person shall not be charged with any civil liability to another party in the event that any domestic animal belonging to such party becomes injured or killed by trespassing or partaking of the poisonous substance or substances so placed.